3 Responses

Gary Schlottach Says:

I’m a police officer for the City of Florissant, Missouri. I’m assigned to Special Operations Unit and on a task force for code enforcement. I am also on the Board of Directors for SLACE [St. Louis Association of Code Enforcement]

Our city has the following definition for “Living or Human sign:

“LIVING OR HUMAN SIGN: A sign held by or attached to a human for the purposes of advertising or otherwise drawing attention to an individual, business, commodity, service or product. This can also include a person dressed in costume for the purpose of advertising or drawing attention to an individual, business, commodity, service or product.”

Also we have the following ordinance for enforcement:

“SECTION 520.175: HUMAN OR LIVING SIGNS
Upon the issuance of a permit, a living or human sign may be allowed on the premises of the property that is being advertised or within six (6) feet of the right-of-way immediately adjacent to the property that is being advertised for a maximum of six (6) times per calendar year for no more than two (2) consecutive days provided that the City is notified in writing at least seven (7) days in advance of the days in which the living or human sign will be used. The sign area shall not exceed three (3) square feet in size and the living or human sign shall not be permitted off site, within the right-of-way or closer than six (6) feet from the right-of-way adjoining the property being advertised. Any failure to comply with these regulations will result in the suspension or revocation of the sign permit and a minimum fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per violation. (Ord. No. 7766 §3, 1-28-10)”

So far we have not encounter any problems with this ordinance; however communication to the businesses about the ordinance is key.

The City of Fort Myers does not address Human Signs in the Sign Ordinance. However, the City is treating them similar to the regulations relating to Sandwich Signs. A person can walk along the front of their storefront area or property (not in the right of-way) holding an advertising sign, not more than six square feet, advertising the business located on the subject property, as long as they follow the regulations below:

126-61 (17) Sandwich signs or A-type signs on the sidewalks in the downtown pedestrian precinct area and elsewhere in the city on private property meeting applicable setback requirements, subject to the following:

a.No sandwich sign shall be located in such a way as to impede pedestrian movement or reduce the unobstructed sidewalk width below four feet. Sandwich signs shall be located directly adjacent to the establishment placing said sign.

The City of Punta Gorda does not permit signs along any of the public roadways within the City limits, whether being carried by a person or stationary.

Chapter 26, Section 11.6., Prohibited Signs and Devices states in part:
Section 11.6. Prohibited Signs and Devices
All signs not expressly permitted under this ordinance or exempt from regulation hereunder in accordance with the previous section are prohibited. Such signs include, but are not limited to:
(c) Any non-governmental sign, banner, sandwich board sign, sidewalk or curb sign, balloons or any other display placed on any curb, sidewalk, post, pole, hydrant, bridge, tree, or other surface located on, over, or across any public street or right-of-way, or any banner, sign or display placed on stakes, or in any other manner on a property, unless otherwise permitted by the City.
(g) Beacons, windblown devices of any type, pole signs, pennants and or streamers, feather flags or flutter flags or similar type advertising device, inflatable signs or inflatable advertising devices, temporary electronic or electric signs, moving or nonstationary signs including signs being carried by a person (other than political signs), canopy signs, portable signs, and off-premise signs.

Chapter 26, Article 13, Events, allows certain limited temporary signs for business events and promotions; however said signage is required to be located entirely on the private property of the business after issuance of a business event or business promotion permit and states in part:
Section 13.1 Purpose.
The City of Punta Gorda in efforts to promote businesses, as well as to encourage visitors to the City, has developed the following descriptions and definitions for Business Events, Business Promotions, Grand Opening Events, Special Events, Temporary Promotional Events and associated signage requests for these events.

Rules of Interpretation. Signage for all Business Events, Business Promotions, Grand Opening Events and Temporary Promotional Events listed herein are subject to the following conditions unless otherwise specifically permitted or prohibited. The term “event” as it is used in this section shall mean a Business Event, Business Promotion, Grand Opening Event or Temporary Promotional Events:
(a) All signs must be professionally made or computer generated unless a portable chalkboard is used.
(b) The sign area of any “A” frame sign that is being utilized during any event as may be permitted by City Code shall be counted as one of the signs permitted or the only sign if a single sign is permitted. The sign area of such sign shall be counted towards the total square feet in area of signage permitted for any event listed herein.
(c) Exterior temporary signage for events located with the City Center (CC) and Neighborhood Center (NC) zoning districts shall be located within five (5) feet of the business entrance or shall be placed on the façade of the building.
(d) Exterior temporary signage for events located within the Highway Commercial (HC) and Special Purpose (SP) zoning districts shall be placed within fifteen (15) feet of the business entrance or shall be placed on the façade of the building.
(e) Exterior temporary signage for businesses located in shopping centers shall be located no more than fifteen (15) feet from the main entrance door to their business; or if impractical, temporary signage may be placed no farther from the main entrance door than the far edge of the sidewalk or landscape island directly abutting the business frontage on the internal drive aisle.
(f) No temporary signage for any event shall be permitted to be located near US 41 or the primary public road abutting the commercial or residential property in these zoning districts, unless otherwise specifically permitted or regulated.
(g) No temporary signage shall be placed in a manner that impedes pedestrian or vehicular traffic or creates a hazard. A minimum 48” wide clear pathway must be maintained at all times.
(h) Businesses located on the interior of an enclosed mall or building shall not be permitted to display exterior temporary signage outside of the confines of the mall or building unless they have ground floor public street frontage to accommodate such temporary signage.
(i) No more than a total of 33% of a business’ windows may be obscured by exterior or interior temporary signage, including any current permanent signage that may be covering the business window.
(j) Temporary promotional signage that is changed on a regular basis and is located on the inside of a window shall be permitted at any time without obtaining an event permit or sign permit provided that such signage does not exceed 33% of the window pane, including the sign area of any permanent signage on that window.
(k) All temporary signage must be maintained so as not to become faded or torn and shall be tied down so it does not move or flap or flutter in the wind.
(l) Temporary signage shall not be illuminated with any additional lighting that is not part of the existing lighting that is located on the site.
(m) The following are prohibited advertising devices: Pennants, streamers, feather flags or flutter flags or similar type advertising devices, windblown devices of any type, off-premise signs, electronic or electric signs, inflatable advertising devices, moving or non-stationary signs including signs being carried by a person and temporary signs placed on a vehicle.

Section 13.2 Business Events and Business Promotions.
(a) A Business Event is defined as a special outside exhibition or activity on the exterior of a business’ premises or on a public sidewalk directly abutting the business’ premises. Activities such as, but not limited to, the use of a temporary tent, live music, ribbon cuttings, raffles and live radio promotions are considered to be a Business Event. A sale may be part of an event, but sales advertising alone does not constitute an event, it is considered a Business Promotion. A no-charge Business Event permit must be obtained from the Code Compliance Division prior to conducting any Business Event.
(1) All businesses shall be allowed to have a maximum of twelve (12) Business Events per calendar year.
a. Each event shall be no more than five (5) days in duration per calendar month.
b. Two events can be combined to be a single event in a single month; however, this shall be counted as two (2) events of the twelve (12) events permitted.
c. There shall be a minimum of five (5) days between any Business Event and any Business Promotion as defined herein.
(2) There shall be no more than two (2) signs for any Business Event.
a. The cumulative sign area of such signs shall not exceed thirty-two (32) square feet.
b. Temporary signage for a Business Event may be displayed only for the five (5) days of the Business Event.
c. No signage for a Business Event shall be located or placed close to the US 41 corridor or other public roadway abutting the property.
(3) A temporary tent may be used as part of a Business Event.
(b) A Business Promotion is a marketing promotion for a business for sales items or advertising specials. Business Promotions are permitted in all commercially zoning districts. A no-charge zoning permit is required to be obtained from the Code Compliance Division for each Business Promotion.
(1) All businesses shall be allowed to have a maximum of twelve (12) Business Promotions per calendar year.
a. Each Business Promotion shall last no more than seven (7) days in duration.
b. A minimum of five (5) days must elapse between each Business Promotion and a minimum of five (5) days must elapse between a Business Promotion and a Business Event.
(2) No more than one (1) sign on the exterior of the business is permitted for a Business Promotion.
a. Such sign shall not exceed ten (10) square feet in area.
b. Any business that is utilizing the “A” frame sign that is currently permitted by City Code shall not be permitted to place additional temporary signage outside of the business for a Business Promotion.
c. No temporary signage shall be located along the US 41 corridor or any public road that abuts the business for a Business Promotion.
(3) A single outdoor display rack of merchandise on the exterior of the business is permitted with any Business Promotion. Any display not brought inside of the business at the close of business day is considered outdoor storage and is prohibited.

Chapter 26, Section 8.12 states:
Section 8.12. Sales within Public Right-of-Way
The sale of merchandise from within the limits and confines of all public roads or streets rights-of-way lying within the jurisdiction of this Ordinance is prohibited, except as provided for by special permission by the City Council.

Chapter 15, Section 15-46:
Sec. 15-46. Peddling/Soliciting on City Streets Prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person to obstruct the use of any public streets by standing or approaching motor vehicles thereon or by endangering the safe movement of vehicles or pedestrians traveling thereon for the purpose of peddling/soliciting.